Music
St Catherine's enjoys a strong reputation for the excellence, inclusivity and variety of its music. All girls are encouraged to get involved, and there are performing opportunities - solo and ensemble - to cater for all abilities and tastes. Academic Music lessons focus on listening and appraising skills as well as composition and performance.
Around 600 individual music lessons are given every week by a team of over 30 Visiting Music Teachers, and the School provides opportunities for all girls to play and sing in the many choral and instrumental ensembles on offer. These include nine choirs, the Symphony Orchestra, Camerata (the school’s top string ensemble), String Orchestra, Concert Band, Wind Band, Flute Choir, Brass Ensemble, Jazz Band, Harp Ensemble, Fife & Drum Band, rock bands and numerous chamber groups. Senior Choir, Camerata, Concert Band and Jazz Band also make regular overseas tours.
Should you wish to experience this exciting department in action please do not hesitate to contact me to make an appointment.
Mr Matthew Greenfield, Director of Music
music@stcatherines.info
Staff List
Music Staff
Mr M Greenfield – Director of Music
email: matthew.greenfield@stcatherines.info
Matthew joined St Catherine’s in 2006. He is a graduate of the University of Oxford where, amongst other pursuits, he was Assistant Director of the Chapel Choir at Oriel College. Alongside his various roles at St Catherine’s, which include Sixth Form Tutor and Timetabler, Matthew also holds the post of Organist and Master of the Choristers at Godalming Minster. He is semi-active as a composer, arranger, conductor and accompanist, and has directed choirs on tour in a number of cathedrals around the UK and abroad.
Mrs S Jones - Director of Prep School Music and Head of Vocal Studies
email: sarah.jones@stcatherines.info
Sarah graduated from The London College of Music where she studied voice with Peter Savidge and won the Andrew Lloyd Webber prize for Musical Theatre. She performed many roles in musicals and sang a number of oratorios before completing her teacher training. Sarah went on to lead music departments in Surrey schools and build award winning choir and instrumental ensembles. After 15 years in the classroom, Sarah took the opportunity to MD musical theatre productions and conduct local choirs as well as build her private instrumental teaching. Sarah has enjoyed playing roles including Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, The Bakers Wife in Into The Woods, Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors, Nancy in Oliver, Grace in Annie as well as regularly performing in function bands and choirs.
Mr D Lloyd - Assistant Director of Senior School Music; Bassoon
email: donald.lloyd@stcatherines.info
Don Lloyd was born and raised in Bournemouth. The main musical influence in his teenage years was the Bandmaster at Oakmead School for Boys, Courtney Bosanko. Don left school in 1976 and joined the Royal Marines School of Music at Deal, as a bassoonist. He passed out from training a term early in 1978 and was posted to Staff Band as the Principal Bassoon. Don served with the Royal Marines Band Service for the next 32 years, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer Bandmaster, concluding his career as the Chief Instructor Higher Training, at the Royal Marines School of Music, HMS Nelson. Whilst in the Royal Marines Band Service he served all over the world. The D-Day 60th anniversary celebrations and the closure of Hong Kong were just two highlights from a long and varied career.
Don passed the ATCL performers diploma in 1997 and gained his Associated Board Certificate of Teaching (CT ABRSM) in 2000. In 2002 he was one of the first group of Royal Marine Musicians to graduate with BMus(Hons) through the association with Portsmouth University. He then gained the LRSM with distinction at the end of the Bandmasters' Course in 2003.
In 2008 he came to the end of his service career and retrained as a music teacher, he has since taught at several schools in West Sussex as Music Teacher, Head of Music and Deputy Head Teacher. As well as his post at St Catherine’s, Don also works for Southampton Music Service as a Woodwind Teacher as well as Musical Director for the Brassroots brass band. Don is also the Musical Director of Meridian Winds, a post he has held since 2009.
Mrs E Knight - Assistant Director of Prep School Music and Head of Keyboard
email: esther.knight@stcatherines.info
Esther Knight is an award-winning accompanist and collaborative pianist. In 2019 she completed her MMus in piano accompaniment at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Malcolm Martineau and James Baillieu. As the winner of the Flora Nielsen Accompanists Prize for French song 2019, and winner of the Major Van Someren-Godfrey Accompanist’s Prize for English Song 2018, Esther specialised in song recital accompaniment. Successes include performing as a finalist in the Sing Finzi 2021 Accompanists Prize and performing in the Oxford Lieder Song Competition.
Esther previously studied piano at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with Isobel Anderson and Graeme McNaught, graduating in 2015. During her undergraduate studies, she enjoyed many successes as a soloist, achieving ‘Highly Commended’ in the Bach competition 2014 and ‘Commended’ in the Governor's Recital Prize for Piano 2015.
Education and teaching have always been an important part of Esther’s career and, during her studies at the Royal Academy of Music, she also achieved a distinction in her LRAM teaching qualification.
Mrs D Burt – Head of Woodwind and Brass
email: denise.burt@stcatherines.info
Denise Burt studied at Trinity College of Music, London (now Trinity Laban) with Harold Clarke and later with Susan Milan and Patricia Morris. She has performed at numerous Music Societies and Festivals throughout the country, including ‘St George’s’, Brandon Hill and ‘Eastnor Castle,’ and has free-lanced with a variety of orchestras and ensembles. Denise has broadcast on Radio 2 and Classic FM and has given recitals at many prestigious venues including the Purcell Room, St. James Piccadilly and St Martin- in- the- Fields. She has recorded CD’s at the famous Snape Maltings with ‘Sheherazade’ (Soprano, Flute and Harp) and enjoys playing her flute in musicals and at functions. Since leaving College Denise has combined performing with a successful teaching career and as well as being Head of Woodwind and Brass at St. Catherine’s she is also flute teacher at St George’s Ascot, Wellington College and Hall Grove.
Mrs S Loya – Head of Strings
email: silja.loya@stcatherines.info
Silja has been Head of Strings at St Catherine’s since 2008. Originally from Finland, she received a Violin Teacher’s Certificate from the Tampere Conservatory in 1997 followed by music studies in Israel 1998 to 2001 with the distinguished violin professors Yair Kless and Irina Svetlova at Tel Aviv University (Israel). She took part in Chautauqua Musica Festival in the US in 1998 & 1999 on a full scholarship.
After moving to London in 2001, she attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance from Royal College of Music in 2002. During 2001-2008 her career as a freelance musician took her around the UK and she regularly performed with orchestras and ensembles, such as Philharmonia, RPO, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic and English Sinfonia, She has previously taught in various schools in Finland, the Palestinian Conservatory in Jerusalem, North London Colourstrings Centre, Colourstrings Saturday School and Dulwich College Kindergarten School, DUCKS.
Besides teaching violin and viola, she co-ordinates and coaches chamber music, teaches Pre-Prep music classes and conducts string orchestras both in the Prep and Senior School. Her free time is spent playing the violin in a string quartet, and she also gives recitals with her husband who is a pianist. Hobbies include reading, films, travelling and languages. She speaks Finnish, English, Swedish, a bit of Russian and Hebrew which she is currently trying to improve. She has two young children and two cats, Priscilla and Puncho.
Mr M Calvo - Assistant Head of Strings
email: miguel.calvo@stcatherines.info
Miguel studied cello at the Conservatorio Pablo Sarasate of Navarra in his home town of Pamplona before moving to London over 15 years ago. Having studied fixed-do solfege for many years, Miguel found it a surprising and eye opening experience to learn movable-do solfege in his Kodaly classes while a student at Trinity College of Music. That led him to be trained as a Colourstrings teacher with the inspirational figure of Csaba Szilvay. You can find him teaching cello through the Colourstrings method in the Colourstrings Saturday School as well as in Dulwich College, Donhead Preparatory School and St. Catherine's, Bramley.
Miguel's interest for ancient, rarely heard music developed even further while completing his Masters in Early Music at the Guildhall School of Music. You can hear him playing a very old cello with gut strings with his group the Haydn Lute Trio.
Miguel loves sports but particularly cycling (especially on the tiny wheels of a Brompton bike), cooking (oh! those brownies recipes from different pupils' parents), travelling (anywhere, anytime, but especially home) and going to the Globe Theatre (even though they don't speak in Spanish!)
Mr I Young – Head of Contemporary Music and Percussion
email: ian.young@stcatherines.info
Ian began his music career in 1980 when he joined the Armed Forces as a musician. He studied percussion and drum kit at Kneller Hall, The Royal Military School of Music, before returning to the RCT Staff Band. During his time there, he participated in numerous concert tours around the world, including Hong Kong, Egypt, France, Germany, and Cyprus. In 1989, he even had the honour of accompanying our late Queen on her State Tour of Jordan.
After leaving the army in 1994, Ian continued his busy career in performing and teaching. He also ventured into music management and developed his own teaching business. He had the privilege of studying with the late Kenny Clare and even acted as a replacement for Kenny in the 1980s with 'The Pizza Express All-stars' in London's West End Jazz Clubs. Additionally, he has freelanced with esteemed groups like The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and has appeared on television broadcasts alongside artists such as Lulu, Diana Krall, Marti Pellow, and Russell Watson.
In 2014, Ian was invited to perform on board the cruise ship Minerva to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D Day. He played with a band composed of former Royal Marine musicians. Currently, Ian holds the position of Head of Percussion and Contemporary Music at St Catherine's School in Bramley, Surrey. He also serves as the Director of the School's Concert and Jazz Bands. In addition to these roles, Ian runs the 'UK Forces Veterans Show Band', a group comprising ex-musicians who have served in the Army, Royal Marines, and Royal Air Force.
Mr M Farquharson - Head of Organ Studies & School Organist, Academic Music Teacher
email: mitchell.farquharson@stcatherines.info
Mitchell started at St Catherine's in September 2023, having previously worked at Wells Cathedral School, during which time he also played for a share of the choral services at Wells Cathedral in the absence of an Assistant Organist. He completed his undergraduate studies at King's College London, graduating with First-Class Honours in Music. He also passed the Associateship of King's College London and was elected to become an Associate in November 2022, as well as holding the College's E. H. Warrell Memorial Organ Scholarship for three years. Mitchell gained the Associate of the Royal College of Organists diploma in 2019 and was previously the Organ Scholar of Chichester Cathedral.
Miss L Švecová - Director of Chapel Choir & Assistant School Organist, Academic Music Teacher
email: lucia.svecova@stcatherines.info
Lucia joined St Catherine’s in 2023 as the Director of Chapel Choir and Music Teacher. She started her musical journey as an organist in Slovakia, working with local youth choirs and taking part in organ competitions. Later, when studying in the UK, Lucia started conducting orchestras and arranging music. A graduate of the University of Oxford, she accompanied and conducted the Jesus College Chapel Choir as Organ Scholar, as well as being the Musical Director of other university ensembles, including an all-female a cappella group and the Oxford University Wind Orchestra. Having worked with the Oxford Opera Society and participated in courses at the Royal Opera House, Lucia discovered that her passion lies in opera. Lucia finished her MMus studies in Orchestral Conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where she studied under David Jones and was Assistant Conductor at the David Seligman Opera School. She also taught piano privately, has given recitals, and conducted professional orchestras such as City of London Sinfonia and the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera. Alongside her role at St Catherine's, Lucia continues expanding her freelance conducting career.
Mr S Kim - Graduate Musician in Residence
email: sin-seock.kim@stcatherines.info
Sin-seock Kim completed his Master of music (MMus) course for piano at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) studying with Sinae Lee, and obtained his second Master's in piano accompaniment at RCS under the supervision of Scott Mitchell. He was a recipient of RCS Trust Postgraduate Scholarship and the Sam Hutchings Memorial Fellowship.
In 2017, Sin-seock won the Ramsay Calder Debussy Prize and a year later he came in first place, winning the Peter Linsay Miller Prize for piano duo.
Sin-seock is an experienced piano soloist, ensemble player and accompanist, and has worked in duos and trios. He has accompanied strings, winds, choirs and ballet performances for recitals, concerts, examinations, recordings and competitions in Korea, Ireland and the UK.
Mrs G Redpath– Music Administrator and PA to the Director of Music
email: gillian.redpath@stcatherines.info
Having studied Modern Languages at Manchester, Gillian went on to take a Master’s Diploma in Marketing. She has worked in Marketing, International Events and as a trilingual PA for an International Medical Laser Company, a Global Investment Company and for the IISS, a political think tank; running conferences across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Gillian has lived and studied in Vienna, Austria. Gillian joined St Catherine’s in 2009. As a mother of two young boys she now spends most of her weekends watching climbing competitions or cheering at the side of a rugby, football or cricket pitch.
Other VMTs
Mr D Appleby - Piano
email: duncan.appleby@stcatherines.info
Duncan is a pianist, tenor and organist from Edinburgh. He moved to London in 2014 for his Master’s degree at the Royal College of Music, where he studied with Kathron Sturrock and Roger Vignoles. His passion for all things music has led to diverse performances with many choirs and orchestras as well as smaller ensembles. In a recent concert Duncan accompanied a choir singing the Duruflé Requiem on the organ, and also performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D minor. He has performed Tippett’s demanding song cycle The Heart’s Assurance with soprano Ruth Hopkins in recitals around the UK. Duncan and Ruth have also attended a residency at the Banff Centre in Canada, supported by the Nicholas Boas Charitable Trust. Apart from music, Duncan enjoys learning languages and baking.
Mrs L Bradbury - Recorder, Flute, Piano
email: louise.bradbury@stcatherines.info
Louise enjoys a rich and varied career as a performer and educationalist, for which she has been elected an associate member of the Royal Academy of Music. With Fontanella and Passacaglia, Louise has enjoyed the privilege of performing, broadcasting and recording in some of the UK and Europe’s leading venues and festivals. Louise’s desire to encourage young recorder players has led to her teaching at the Birmingham Conservatoire, several universities and the junior department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as well as regularly working as an adjudicator. With her husband, Louise is a director of Little Notes, an award-winning education programme for young families. Louise is resident accompanist for the Horsham Children’s Choir. She has three daughters who love to sing, act and dance.
Mrs L Cordell – Harp
email: luisa.cordell@stcatherines.info
Popular award-winning harpist Luisa-Maria Cordell has travelled the world performing and teaching the harp. Luisa has a busy freelance career playing for orchestras and performing as a solo recitalist for European recital series and has been the featured Classical artiste for well known cruise-liners. Luisa recently made a recording with ‘cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. Luisa has performed for many dignitaries including members of the Royal Family including the Queen and various Prime Ministers and Statesmen such as The Clinton Family.
Luisa is a popular tutor who enjoys passing on her love of the harp. She has been an invited guest tutor for the Clarsach Society, The Edinburgh harp festival, National schools Orchestras and The European Youth Orchestra. Some of Luisa’s pupils have gone to become successful music scholars at schools such as Wells Cathedral School and various London music college junior departments.
Luisa is the founder and Director of The National Youth Harp Orchestra of Great Britain. Nurturing and tutoring the NYHO is a very special and enjoyable part of Luisa’s career. The NYHO performs all over Europe and most recently America. It is a platform of unique and tremendous opportunities for harp enthusiast of all ages. It is a positive and inspirational training ground for the world of performing. The revered Professor of harp studies at The Royal College of music Daphne Boden has recently become their patron.
Luisa’s other fulfilling role is being a Mum to her two young children Daniel and Ayala.
Dr F de Bray - Voice
email: fleur.debray@stcatherines.info
Fleur returned to St Catherine’s as a visiting teacher of voice, having studied at the school herself a number of years ago. Fleur went on to complete a BMus Honours, MMus and PhD from Cardiff University, in addition to training as an opera singer at the Royal Northern College of Music and Wales International Academy of Voice. Awards include the Baroness De Turkheim Vocal Scholarship, Eva Turner Award, David Lloyd Vocal Scholarship and Sir Geraint Evans Prize.
In 2015, Fleur made her Royal Opera House Linbury debut, singing the high coloratura role of ‘Bottle’ and ‘Victorian’, in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Will Todd. The previous year, she was also a Young Artist at Opera Holland Park, performing the role of Governess in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw. Other operatic roles include Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute; Donna Anna in Don Giovanni; Madame Herz in Der Schauspieldirektor; Adina in L’elisir d’amore; Clorinda in La Cenerentola; Musetta in La Boheme; Le Feu in L’Enfant et Les Sortilèges; Cunegonde in Candide; Josephine in HMS Pinafore and Norina in Don Pasquale.
From 2016 to 2018 Fleur performed the principal role of Katherina Cavalieri in the sell-out production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus at the National Theatre, with the Southbank Sinfonia. She continues to perform internationally with various touring companies.
Ms J Freeman – Piano
email: julia.freeman@stcatherines.info
Julia Freeman studied under Max Pirani on The Performers' Course at the Royal Academy of Music, where she won several prizes for piano performance and aural training. She subsequently lived in the United States for ten years, working extensively as a freelance accompanist throughout the Midwest. Engagements included numerous recitals at both graduate and faculty level within the University system, broadcasting live on Chicago's Classical Radio Station, guest appearances at Summer Festivals and playing for several stages of the Metropolitan Opera awards. On her return to England she became Director of Music at an Independent Girls’ School, which post she held for thirteen years. Her choirs there were twice chosen to take part in the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth at the South Bank. Teaching has featured prominently throughout her life; past pupils have gained places at all of the national conservatoires and many have enjoyed exam and competition success. In the summer of 2013 one of her pupils was awarded the ABRSM Gold Medal for achieving the highest Grade 8 mark in the country. She still accompanies when she has time; she is accompanist to the Farnham Youth Choir, twice BBC Choir of the year and holder of numerous international Grands Prix.
Mr M Goodman - Acoustic, Electric & Bass Guitar
email: michael.goodman@stcatherines.info
Mike has been recording and gigging internationally as both a guitarist and MD for over 20 years for many artists including Wiley, Living in a Box, Jake Gosling, Kenny Thomas, Liv Dawson, Nate James, Bucks Fizz (now The Fizz), Cass Fox (Faithless), Thomas Jules (Rudimental) and leading function band Madhen.
For 10 years, he had his own monthly column in Guitarist Magazine studying theory, lead and rhythm playing and has for this past year been writing copy for Total Guitar magazine in collaboration with RSL. He is one of the team of guitar tutors for Guitar Breaks, a company that offers residential retreats in locations around the world for aspiring players and has worked alongside Matt Schofield and Ariel Posen.
He has contributed arrangements, content and recordings for the Rockschool Electric Guitar syllabus and currently works as a consultant and video contributor for the new ABRSM Electric Guitar Journeys Tuition. He has endorsed and demonstrated for Palm Bay Guitars, Randall Amplifiers and Fylde Guitars at Trade shows around the country.
Along with playing, he wrote, recorded and produced music for several TV series and programmes including Wildlife Photographer, Lifeboat rescue and Wildlife SOS. He has taught in Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, 6th Form Colleges and has worked at ACM since 1997 as a Guitar Tutor teaching from Level 2 up to Level 6. In his time there he held various positions such as Senior Lecturer, Module Leader and Performance School Assistant Manager. He has not only taught guitar and performance classes, but ear training, sight-reading, stylistic awareness, session styles and improvisation. He led the design of modules and their assessments and contributed to the composition of course notes.
Mrs C Harding - Double Bass
email: caroline.harding@stcatherines.info
Caroline graduated from Trinity College of Music in 1989, and then completed two post-graduate years at The Royal College of Music. She was awarded the William Webster prize for Orchestral Double Bass playing and the Eugene Cruft prize for solo performance.
Caroline is a busy freelance Double Bass player, working frequently for many London orchestras and performing in the West End. She is Principal Bass for English Touring Opera and Sub Principal Bass at the English Symphony Orchestra. She has recently toured to China with the BBC Concert Orchestra, and regularly performs in summer Opera Festivals including Opera Holland Park, Grange Park and Garsington.
Caroline is an enthusiastic teacher and enjoys teaching students of all ages. She currently teaches at St. Catherine’s School, Christ’s Hospital, Cranleigh School and The Royal Grammar School, Guildford.
Ms L Hayter - Oboe
email: louise.hayter@stcatherines.info
Louise Hayter graduated from The Royal College of Music in 2005 and shortly after moved to Hong Kong as Guest Principal Oboe in the HK Sinfonietta. Since returning to the UK, Louise performs regularly with orchestras such as the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Ballet Sinfonia, to name a few. She is principal oboe for English Touring Opera and also enjoys working in the West End shows.
Louise is passionate about teaching and enjoys working with students of all ages. She is a Visiting Professor at Trinity Laban Conservatorie of Music and Dance and has given many masterclasses there and further afield in places such as Hong Kong and India.
Miss C Hobbs - Piano
email: charlotte.hobbs@stcatherines.info
Charlotte studied music at The University of Birmingham. She later went on to complete her Postgraduate Diploma in Music, at Birmingham Conservatoire, under the tuition of Robert Markham and Philip Martin. As an experienced piano accompanist Charlotte has worked for Elmhurst Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School and Ex Cathedra Junior Academy. More recently Charlotte has been based in Surrey, where she has established herself as a teacher and accompanist. This includes working at Bedales, Farnham Music and Drama, Hampshire Music Service and More House School in Frensham.
Mrs F Howe – Flute
email: fiona.howe@stcatherines.info
Fiona Howe studied at the Royal College of Music with John Francis and David Butt , where she won the Oliver Dawson Woodwind Prize. Since leaving the College, she has worked as a free-lance musician and as a member of chamber groups and orchestras, performing at London venues including the South Bank, the Barbican Centre, St. John’s Smith’s Square and St. Martin in the Fields. She has also toured throughout Britain and the Middle East for music clubs and festivals and she has made recordings for radio, television and educational CDs. Currently she teaches at St. Catherine’s School, Guildford High School and the Royal Grammar School and she also has a large private practice. She teaches students from beginner through to Grade 8 and diploma level, as well as coaching ensembles in schools and at music courses.
Mr S Knowles - Guitar
email: stephen.knowles@stcatherines.info
Miss K Lowe - Voice
email: kate.lowe@stcatherines.info
Mezzo-soprano Kate Lowe is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music (MA, Dist., 2020) where she explored a wealth of vocal repertoire (including Opera, Lieder, English Song, French and Spanish Art Song, and Russian Song) and received special commendations in two Academy competitions. As part of the RAM Opera Scenes, she performed roles including Nancy (Albert Herring, Britten) and Smeton (Anna Bolena, Donizetti), and Chorus for Royal Academy Opera's Semele (Handel). Whilst at RAM, Kate was also on the Philharmonia Chorus Student Scheme and was supported by the Josephine Baker Trust. She recently performed in the chorus of Regent Opera’s La Forza del Destino, toured with the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, and will be playing Siebel in Guildford Opera’s Faust (Gounod) this coming Autumn. Kate previously studied at Cambridge University (BA Education with English), and is currently a Foundation Singer at St Nicolas Church, Guildford, an online English Language and Literature tutor and peripatetic singing teacher.
Mrs J McDonough – Violin & Viola
email: julia.mcdonough@stcatherines.info
Originally from Yorkshire, Julia studied at the Royal College of Music and Goldsmiths’ College, London, before beginning her orchestral career as a member of the First Violins at the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow. Three years later, she returned to Leeds as a member of Opera North, playing chamber and orchestral concerts alongside the operatic repertoire.
Living in Dorking and Guildford since 1994 has brought an interesting variety of study, including an MA in Performance Practice, teaching, at independent schools in Surrey and Hampshire, and performance, including engagements with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Surrey’s own orchestra, Southern Pro Musica.
Commercial session recordings at the major studios such as Abbey Road, Pinewood, Angel and Air Studios have also added variety to her musical portfolio.
Mrs M Nash – Clarinet & Saxophone
email: michelle.nash@stcatherines.info
Michelle studied Music at Canterbury, gaining a BA Hons and later gaining a postgraduate diploma in Music Education. As a woodwind doubler Michelle has played in numerous shows and pit orchestras. Her performing work has taken her all over the UK playing with a variety of orchestras, big bands and contemporary ensembles in venues such as The Royal Festival Hall, The Royal Albert Hall, Canterbury Cathedral and the Jazz Cafe. Michelle has performed live and broadcast on Radio 3, BBC 6 music and throughout Europe and the USA.
Ms J Ortony - French Horn
email: jessica.ortony@stcatherines.info
Jessica started learning the French horn aged 8 and went on to join Birmingham Conservatoire Junior School. Jessica received a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland studying under David McCleneghan and John Logan. She graduated with a BMus, PGDip and a Distinction for her Masters in Music Performance. During Jessica’s time at the RCS she won the Governors Brass Recital Prize and began to work as a freelance horn player. As part of her Masters she performed Strauss 1st horn concerto with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and at the end of her time studying she was awarded the Peter Morrison Prize.
In 2008 Jessica successfully auditioned to attend the London Symphony Orchestra brass academy course tutored by David Pyatt and was a finalist for their solo recital competition. Jessica worked in Scotland playing with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and also gained 2nd horn trials with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Orchestra of Scottish Ballet.
Jessica taught for Renfrewshire and Dundee music services as well as Sistema Scotland before moving south and teaching for Worcestershire Youth Music. Jessica has been working for Berkshire Maestros for the past two years where she teaches brass as well as directing and coaching a number of ensembles.
Mr S Pierce - Trumpet
email: samuel.pierce@stcatherines.info
Originally from Monmouth, South Wales, Sam received scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate study at the Royal Academy of Music, under the tutelage of Paul Beniston, Mark David, Gareth Small, and Will O'Sullivan, as well as Robert Farley and John Hutchins for the natural trumpet and cornett. Sam now works as a freelance musician across a diverse range of musical settings, including orchestral, musical theatre, solo, chamber and commercial settings across the UK and abroad. Notable orchestral work has included the Ulster Orchestra, Welsh National Opera, and Grange Park Opera. In the realms of historical performance, Sam has played with leading ensembles including the Hanover Band, the Irish Baroque Orchestra, the London Handel Orchestra, Brecon Baroque, the Brook Street Band. Additionally, he is lead trumpet of the Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra, is currently a deputy trumpet for the Thursford Christmas Spectacular, and has performed on numerous musicals in and around London. Sam has appeared as a soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, for a series of performances of the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, and has given several trumpet and organ recitals with Joseph Beech, including St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Festival Hall.
Miss C Potter – Clarinet & Saxophone
email: chloe.potter@stcatherines.info
Chloë Potter is a multi-instrumentalist, educator, composer and sound designer. A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Chloë has performed at notable venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, Windsor Castle, The Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Concert Hall, Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, The O2 Centre and 606 Jazz Club. She has also performed before Her Majesty the Queen and dignitaries from across the Commonwealth on multiple occasions. With a strong passion for music education, Chloë has organised and lead 'Song Squad' workshops helping children to develop their composition and performance skills. She currently works for 'Now>Press>Play', crafting the soundtrack and sound design for their educational audio experiences. As a composer, Chloë has received commissions from a diverse array of international clients, scoring for short films, documentaries, art installations, audio-books, and multiple ensembles. Previous clients include the London 2012 Olympic Games, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and Sony Music.
Miss I Radić – Piano
email: irena.radic@stcatherines.info
A prize-winning pianist and versatile chamber musician, Irena Radić was selected as the Constant & Kit Lambert Junior Fellow 2024-25 at the Royal College of Music, London, supported by an award from The Musician's Company. Previously, she completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the RCM studying with Niel Immelman and Dina Parakhina as a Cotes-Burgan Scholar. Irena enjoys a diverse performing career, both as a soloist and with a variety of chamber groups. Recent highlights include a recital featuring Rachmaninoff's 10 Preludes Op.23, at the Holburne Museum in Bath on a magnificent Steinway piano that Rachmaninoff used for his own performances in Britain in the 1930s.
Irena was a prize-winner in the Bromsgrove International Musicians Competition, the Kendall Taylor Beethoven Competition and was chosen as a Help Musicians UK Postgraduate Award Holder. Her studies have also been supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, the Hilda Martindale Trust, the St Marylebone Educational Foundation, the Tsukanov Family Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation and the Else and Leonard Cross Charitable Trust. Irena is an experienced orchestral pianist & celeste player and was selected as the Philharmonia Orchestra's MMSF Piano Fellow 2018-19.
Based in London, Irena teaches a range of pupils of all abilities from young children to adults. Her teaching draws on inspiration from her own esteemed professors - Dina Parakhina, Niel Immelman and Lynette Stulting - and is also influenced by the Suzuki method having studied with Jenny Macmillan from an early age. Irena has a keen interest in anatomy and injury prevention, drawing on principals from methods such as the Alexander Technique and Timani to tailor her lessons to each individual student.
In her free time Irena enjoys tending to her extensive houseplant collection, knitting, hiking, practising yoga and baking sourdough bread.
Mr P Rayner - Percussion
email: Peter.Rayner@stcatherines.info
Peter is a freelance drummer and percussionist trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As a young percussionist Peter attended Junior Guildhall, where he was awarded the Jam Percussion prize. Peter was also a percussion category finalist in BBC Young Musician of the Year 2012 and a finalist in Mike Dolbear's Young Drummer of the Year 2013.
Peter is a versatile drummer and percussionist who can be found in various settings, from symphony orchestras to jazz, pit and function bands. Most notable recent work has been as a percussionist with the London Film Music Orchestra and touring internationally with pianist Maksim Mrvica - the world’s biggest selling crossover pianist. Peter also enjoys exploring music and percussion from around the world and is a member of the Happy Beigel Klezmer Orkester, performing traditional klezmer music with jazz inflections. Peter also enjoys composing and recording music, most recently library music for The Nerve.
As a teacher, Peter currently is a member of staff with Guildhall Young Artists Kings Cross, St Catherine’s Bramley, Cranmore School, Portsmouth Grammar School, Surrey Arts and a deputy teacher at Junior Guildhall. His teaching includes one to one lessons, group classes and as both a conductor and tutor for orchestras and ensembles.
Mr T Rumsey - Piano
email: timothy.rumsey@stcatherines.info
Tim Rumsey is an experienced concert pianist, chamber musician and teacher, having delighted audiences at venues including the V&A Museum, Wigmore Hall, and at various festivals around the UK. Recent performances include a Harrison Birtwistle Tribute concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall with the London Sinfonietta and a performance of Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto in Chichester Cathedral alongside the Chichester Symphony Orchestra, with solo appearances in London, Cheltenham and Oxford.
Tim has an equal passion for composition, arrangement and jazz with recent projects including an arrangement of Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice for solo piano and Gershwin’s ‘An American in Paris’ for his trio with violin and clarinet. Tim is an accomplished jazz pianist and regularly plays for events and functions around London and the surrounding area, as well as incorporating jazz repertoire in his concert programmes.
In addition to teaching at St. Catherine’s, Tim teaches in other schools as well as on a private basis around London, and at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music on Saturdays. He has recently graduated with an MA and DipABRSM award from the Academy.
Miss J Shim - Piano
email: jinah.shim@stcatherines.info
Jinah studied piano performance at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she is currently now a Guildhall Artist Fellow. She has performed solo rectials around the UK, including Wigmore Hall, Steinway Hall and St. Martin in the Fields. She also performs concertos with various orchestras and has worked alongside the assistant conductor of the Hallé Orchestra with Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2.
In previous years, Jinah has won "Chandos Young Musician of the Year 2011" and was also the first Guildhall winner of 2011 Enesvu scholarship. In 2015, she won 2nd prize at Brighton's Springboard Concerto competition and 1st prize at Christopher Duke. She is currently an artist for Making Music's Young Artist's Concert Scheme, which she also won in 2015. Jinah is also an avid chamber music fan and represented the UK at Stellenbosch Music Festival with Sonos Piano Trio in 2014 and has performed at Orpheus and Bacchus Festival in France with Hill Piano Quartet.
Miss J Spencer – ‘Cello
email: jayne.spencer@stcatherines.info
Jayne studied ‘cello at the Guildhall with Raphael Wallfisch after which she played with the London and Vienna Festival Ballet companies before moving to the Far East in 1988, where she continued to play and teach in Singapore and Brunei.
Returning home, Jayne became the cellist with the Salieri Quartet, playing for Classic FM’s ‘Mostly Mozart’ Series at the Barbican, recording Matthew Taylor’s 4th Quartet for Toccata Classics and premiering the work at the Barbican London in 2012. Jayne continues to work with Salieri and also works with English National Ballet in London’s West End. Teaching and working as a cellist in Surrey and London, Jayne is also a keen swimmer and runner, swimming for Surrey and regularly running marathons.
Mr B Sutton – Violin & Viola
email: barry.sutton@stcatherines.info
Barry Sutton studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London from 1983-1987 and left with a performance degree (A.G.S.M.) gaining a distinction in teaching. He has played with numerous orchestras including The National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, The Orchestra of St. John’s Smith Square, The Endymion Ensemble and The Purcell Orchestra. He played in “Chess” at the Prince Edward Theatre. Barry was invited to join the teaching staff at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Junior Department, teaching violin, conducting string ensembles and coaching chamber music, and eventually becoming Academic Assistant (Deputy Head) in 1997. Barry has been a specialist string examiner for the Guildhall School and has worked for the examination department training examiners. As a chamber musician he has played both violin and viola. Barry has taught in a number of local schools including Hurstpierpoint College, the Rikkyo School in England and St. Mary’s Choir School, Reigate. At present he is teaching at St. Catherine’s School, Bramley and Farlington School, Horsham. He is leader of the Horsham Symphony Orchestra and regularly freelances in the South of England.
Mr P Sykes – Lower Brass
email: paul.sykes@stcatherines.info
Paul studied at The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall under William Teskey. Paul's professional career as a freelance trombonist has taken him all over the world performing in a wide range of styles and settings. He performs regularly in London and across the county and has also deputised on West End shows. Paul currently leads his own 18-piece big band and is the trombonist with the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra.
Paul coaches the Surrey County Youth Jazz Orchestra trombone section and deputises as conductor. He also teaches at Lord Wandsworth College, Churches' College Senior and Junior School, for Hampshire Music Service and Surrey Arts.
Paul has taught since the age of 20 and is a passionate teacher who believes that music should be learnt in a fun way. He teaches Associated Board and Trinity Guildhall exams from beginner to advanced level, and all styles of music from classical, to current chart songs and jazz standards.
Mrs R Thomas - Piano
email: rachael.thomas@stcatherines.info
Rachael began playing the piano at a very early age followed shortly by the violin. After attending the Royal College of Music Junior Department she progressed to the Senior Department as an Undergraduate Scholar studying with John Barstow. Whilst at College she developed a passion for 20th Century and Contemporary music, performing with the RCM’s New Perspectives Ensemble under Edwin Roxburgh and subsequently becoming a member of the London Contemporary Music Group with whom she premiered works by leading and emerging British composers. As well as performing solo and chamber music across the UK Rachael strongly believes in working across art forms and has worked within the field of Contemporary Dance, even being required to join in the movement whilst playing live! She has also collaborated on new Opera both for the Royal Opera House and the Tête à Tête festival, her personal highlight being the opportunity to work with poet Ian McMillan.
Rachael particularly enjoys working with young people and accompanying a wide range of ages and abilities, from Grade 1 exams through to The BBC Young Musician of the Year. She was thrilled to be involved in a huge project, Dragon Song, encompassing massed choirs and community schools to Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Sr George’s College where she is a VMT. The transformative power of music for young people is something Rachael feels passionate about and she believes strongly it should be accessible to all children. As a result Rachael also works in primary schools within the state sector delivering class lessons based on Kodaly’s educational techniques and promoting singing as an instrument that can give all children a rich musical foundation from a very early age. She also has written numerous songs and plays for school children to perform and believes even the most battered school piano can have a role to play in enriching a child’s musical experience!
Mr N Tinker - Piano
email: nathan.tinker@stcatherines.info
Nathan Tinker obtained his Bachelors of Music with Honours from the Royal college of Music, in 2011, where he studied piano with Gordon Fergus-Thompson, composition with Jonathan Cole and jazz piano with Michael Moran. Nathan then graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Distinction, in 2017, under the tutelage of Pamela Lidiard.
Primarily a collaborative pianist, Nathan has performed in the UK, at the Barbican Centre, St. Martin's in the Fields, St. James's Piccadilly, the Royal Albert Hall and Wigmore Hall; and internationally, Corsica, Italy, France, Romania and his native Japan. Nathan has also enjoyed performances at festivals such as the Leicester International Music Festival and the George Enescu Festival last year.
Nathan also runs a teaching studio where he teaches piano, violin, theory and composition as well as coach and accompany instrumental exams and chamber groups. He has taught all over London and most recently started working for the Sutton Music Service, Hillbrook Primary School, Tooting and St. Catherine’s School, Bramley. Nathan also leads seminars for undergraduate pianists at the Guildhall School of Music in improvisation.
Also a keen composer, Nathan has been composer in residence at the Islington Festival of Music and Art for two years running curating an hour of jazz and contemporary classical compositions. His catalogue contains works, ‘Isolation’ for solo piano, ‘Fantasy on Japanese Themes’ for violin and piano curated by the Resono Collective, and 'Topsy Turvy' written for flute and piano. He will be releasing singles and albums of his compositions on Spotify and other platforms in the years to come.
When he is not busy performing and teaching, Nathan accompanies dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and Rambert. He also accompanies classes for people living with Parkinson's for BalletBoyz and English National Ballet.
Miss J Watson - Voice
email: janice.watson@stcatherines.info
Janice studied performance at the Guildhall school of music and drama. In her first year after leaving college Janice was the winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Scholarship, the Royal Overseas League Gold Medal, the Commonwealth musician of the Year and winner of The Peter Pears singing competition. For thirty-five years Janice has been a professional concert and opera singer, performing worldwide. Janice has a list of 178 CDs currently in circulation. In 1999 Janice Watson won a Grammy Award and in further years was nominated for two other Grammy awards. Janice has performed lead roles with many of the world’s major orchestras and opera companies including ROH Covent Garden, The Metropolitan Opera New York, The Sydney Opera, Vienna State Opera, the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonia, Boston Symphony orchestra and many more. Janice regularly adjudicates for the major London Music Colleges and major voice competitions including The Kathleen Ferrier Scholarship. In more recent years Janice has begun teaching many singers of all ages. Janice joined St Catherine’s in spring 2022.
Curriculum - A Level
Examination Board: Edexcel
Why study Music?
Studying Music gives you the ability to express yourself through different media, as both an academic and creative musician. You will develop your performance and compositional skills, as well as gaining a more informed understanding of how and why music was written and performed. It is a highly respected academic subject, combining well with other Arts and Humanity A Levels or Sciences. Universities welcome musicians as they are self-motivated, inquisitive, cultured and inspiring people.
Course Content
Students will have opportunities to practise performance skills in solo and/or ensemble work, to compose music in styles of their own choice, and to learn about the basics of Harmony through specific technical study. Aural and analytical skills will be cultivated by way of six Areas of Study: Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Music for Film, Popular Music and Jazz, Fusions and New Directions.
For students who want to take this course, the experience of interacting with music from a wide range of time and place will provide you with a broad and satisfying experience with valuable new insights into the world of music. This course also offers ideal opportunities for those who wish to progress further to degree level qualifications in music.
Assessment
- Performing (30%): 8 minute recital (approx. grade 7-8 standard)
- Composing (30%): two compositions (at least one to a specific brief) with a combined length of at least 6 mins.
- Appraising (40%): a 2 hour 10 minute written paper focusing on set works and listening skills
Curriculum - IGCSE
Examination Board: CAIE
IGCSE Music is about making and listening to music. It covers performance, composition and listening in a wide variety of musical styles, and there are opportunities to become more familiar with music technology too. Areas of study covered include Classical, Contemporary, Popular and World Music.
Will I enjoy this course?
Yes, if you already like:
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Listening to a wide variety of music from the Baroque period to more contemporary styles and want to know the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of music
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Performing
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Composing or arranging
I’m interested – tell me more!
Some of the types of music we study will be familiar, some will not: what is certainly true is that you will gain a breadth of understanding and appreciation that will enrich your music-making for life.
You will become a proficient composer – and you don’t have to be Mozart to do well! Some people have tunes in their heads that they are just bursting to write down: we will show you how to do it. It’s a great feeling to have other people playing and listening to music which you have written! The composing software that we use enables you to compose your piece, print it out, mix it down and either burn it onto CD or listen to it on your phone or iPad!
For the Performance paper, you will need to be around Grade 5 standard by the time you sit the IGCSE examination, and you should expect to perform both as a soloist and in an ensemble.
Classes are fun and varied – you’ll have a great time as well as learning a huge amount about the subject.
I’m thinking about the future – what useful skills will it give me?
IGCSE Music gives you analytical and technical skills that you can easily transfer to other disciplines. It also shows that you have the interest and tenacity to develop your academic understanding of a hobby.
How will I be examined?
There are three areas that will be examined:
- Performance
- Composition
- Listening
The Performance and Composition modules are both coursework and will require you to submit your work by a given deadline. For the Listening paper, you will listen to a specially-prepared CD and answer questions related to the music we will have studied during the course.
Assessment
- Performing (30%): ensemble and solo performance
- Composing (30%): two compositions
- Appraising (40%): a 1 hour 15 mins written paper focusing on set works and listening skills
Curriculum - KS3
All year groups study Music through performance and composition as well as theory and have access to a wide range of resources.
U3 (taught as two 10-week modules)
- Fundamentals of Music
- Rhythm
- Pitch
L4 (taught as two 10-week modules)
- History of Western classical Music (from Medieval to modern day)
- World Music
U4 (taught on rotation with Drama throughout the year)
- The Blues
- Music for the moving image